God Help the AFL.............

[power01]

Seems to me the great game as we once knew it is in a real decline............
the inclusion of unworkable rules, over zealous tribunals, the mighty dollar determining so many factors of Aussie Rules..........etc etc etc..
Then the continued bad press on players behaviour and drug use seems to have drawn further negative press..(as you could understand)...................also the behaviour and attitude of Ben Cousins really didnt do much for the AFL marketing machine...

Sadly Footy has lost a little of its shine for me, I still love it but like everything its just a business and the bottom line is money.........


I feel the glory days may have gone and never to return.........but we can live in hope...

[McAlmanac]

over zealous tribunals...

Two blokes rubbed out in the first five rounds is over zealous?

[Westsider]

Let me pose a question to the older generation as I'm youngish.

With the greater coverage of AFL in the media, do you think that the media are focusing on the bad parts of football and making the sport as a whole look worse than what it is?

i.e. alcohol and drug issues... in the old days, were problems publicised as much as they are now?

umpires - with the advent of replays, slow-mo, super slow-mo, and ultra-super-duper-slow-mo are umpiring mistakes being found out more now, that what they used to? also are umpires calling frees that "might" be there because they are worrying that they will get in trouble due to all the replays that are shown these days?

just curious to whether people think the media is changing how the AFL is viewed, more than what the AFL are doing.

[smithy]

Seems to me the great game as we once knew it is in a real decline............
the inclusion of unworkable rules, over zealous tribunals, the mighty dollar determining so many factors of Aussie Rules..........etc etc etc..
Then the continued bad press on players behaviour and drug use seems to have drawn further negative press..(as you could understand)...................also the behaviour and attitude of Ben Cousins really didnt do much for the AFL marketing machine...

Sadly Footy has lost a little of its shine for me, I still love it but like everything its just a business and the bottom line is money.........


I feel the glory days may have gone and never to return.........but we can live in hope...

Not sure if the wink makes this tongue in cheek but I saw the thread title and immediately thought........**** THE AFL.

F*CK OFF DEMETRIOU
F*CK OFF ANDERSON
F*CK OFF THE RULES COMMITTEE
F*CK OFF MELBOURNE, RICHMOND, WEST BULLDOGS, KANGAROOS, ST KILDA, HAWTHORN (PICK 3 OF THEM)
F*CK OFF NATIONAL DRAFT (It's restraint of trade)
F*CK OFF SALARY CAP (Stupid rule, hard working clubs see good players needing to leave or take pay cuts because they can't fit in)

HOORAY TO 8 WAFL, 9 SANFL AND 9 AFL CLUBS, 1 TASSIE AND 1 NTFL ALL FORMING A 2 DIVISION PROMOTION/RELEGATION NATIONAL COMPETITION LIKE IT SHOULD OF BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Of course it won't happen but the clowns in AFL house I have NO sympathy whatsoever.

[Dutchy]

Pick the Carlton fan who still hasnt gotten over the draft picks they lost...

[McAlmanac]

I feel the glory days may have gone and never to return.........but we can live in hope...

This is said about every era twenty years or so down the track.

I went to a cracking game on Saturday night between North and Sydney. I didn't see Footscray v Fitzroy at the Western Oval in 1977, but I'm willing to tip it wasn't a classic.

And I saw a picture in the Herald Scum on the weekend of the umpires getting a police escort off Windy Hill in 1957. Whinging about umpires is not a recent phenomenon - it's just magnified today.

Same talk - different eras.

[smithy]

Pick the Carlton fan who still hasnt gotten over the draft picks they lost...

I'll take that with a pinch of salt ol' Dutchy, if you remember, not that long ago I stated that Carlton got everything they deserved. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

i excluded the VIC clubs with GOOD MEMBERSHIPS, EXCELLENT CROWD NUMBERS AND HISTORY OF WINNING PREMIERSHIPS. You could make an argument for and against Collingwood/Richmond, but there is no doubt why Nth Melbourne aren't there..

Poor history, poor membership, poor crowd numbers...........stop clutching at straws....

[smithy]

In fact the same could be said about Glenelg, but that's another thread.

You're twice the loser I thought you where.....

[the wonder elephant]

ohhohh this could be coming back with interest smithy

[Jimmy]

that is why there is the sanfl and as long as sturt are running around and the mighty double blue jumper is alive and kicking, ill love my footy!!!!!

the sanfl, thats where it is AT!!!!

[Dutchy]

Pick the Carlton fan who still hasnt gotten over the draft picks they lost...

I'll take that with a pinch of salt ol' Dutchy, if you remember, not that long ago I stated that Carlton got everything they deserved. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

i excluded the VIC clubs with GOOD MEMBERSHIPS, EXCELLENT CROWD NUMBERS AND HISTORY OF WINNING PREMIERSHIPS. You could make an argument for and against Collingwood/Richmond, but there is no doubt why Nth Melbourne aren't there..

Poor history, poor membership, poor crowd numbers...........stop clutching at straws....

Resorting to personal attacks now?

Lets see - our membership is as good as it has ever been, Crowd numbers are up (27,000 last week against an interstate side) and winning premierships?? FFS 4 in the last 32 years, what more would you like?...give me a break...oh yeah and 2 of them since Carltons last one....ahhh now I remember...still bitter about 1999?

[PhilG]

..

[JK]

LOL ... Anyone watch "On The Couch" last night, particularly the segment were they discussed the "Zero-Tolerance audible obscenity rule"?

Kanga's player (Swallow perhaps?) given a 50-metre penalty for saying "Thats Crap" about an umpiring decision ... Not allowed to swear ... Umpire whilst running the player back to mark explains why "You said that's a Crap decision".

LOL .. So ump can swear but player can't, TV's and audiences will only be offended by a player swearing? LMAO .. WTF!!

Also, Stevie Baker .. How does he only get 1 game for charging a bloke with dual forearm to the throat?? It's no wonder the public fails to understand the whole report & tribunal system/procedure.

[smithy]

Pick the Carlton fan who still hasnt gotten over the draft picks they lost...

I'll take that with a pinch of salt ol' Dutchy, if you remember, not that long ago I stated that Carlton got everything they deserved. NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

i excluded the VIC clubs with GOOD MEMBERSHIPS, EXCELLENT CROWD NUMBERS AND HISTORY OF WINNING PREMIERSHIPS. You could make an argument for and against Collingwood/Richmond, but there is no doubt why Nth Melbourne aren't there..

Poor history, poor membership, poor crowd numbers...........stop clutching at straws....

Resorting to personal attacks now?

Lets see - our membership is as good as it has ever been, Crowd numbers are up (27,000 last week against an interstate side) and winning premierships?? FFS 4 in the last 32 years, what more would you like?...give me a break...oh yeah and 2 of them since Carltons last one....ahhh now I remember...still bitter about 1999?

Not a personal attack Dutchy.

Last I read your membership was 17000, if you think that's good, so be it.
Try 4 premierships since 1925.

[Dutchy]

Not a personal attack Dutchy.

Certainly sounds like it to me -

You're twice the loser I thought you where.....

Last I read your membership was 17000, if you think that's good, so be it.
Try 4 premierships since 1925.

membership is now over 20,000, good result considering our demographic....we are both right regarding the premierships...

[Hondo]

The VFL was almost broke in the mid 80s so compared to now, we are in utopia. Forget the negatives for a bit, and look at some good things going on:

- the spread of teams that are winning premierships is much better - gone are the says of 3-4 teams dominating year after year
- there is not consistently bad teams over a long period of time (by bad I mean 1-21, 2-20 year after year) thanks to the draft and salary cap
- teams can no longer buy their way to continued success (such as Carlton used to for example - it would be unheard of today for 1 club to get Kernahan, Bradley and Motley all at once)
- you can see 4-5 games almost live (in their entirety - 8 if you have Foxtel) compared to a 2 hour Sat night highlights show 25 years ago)
- attendances are strong
- the comp is very financially viable and successful, better than at any time in it's history - that has to be good for the lower level comps and the grass roots. Plus the AFL can now afford to hand out grants to ensure the existing 16 clubs can stay afloat in short term (Carlton and Bulldogs LY got grants I think)
- as for the standard of the game. We think back to ye old times very nostalgically and put our rose coloured glasses on. But we tend to remember the big games only - grand finals and the like. As McAlmanac said, go pull out a video of a Saints - Demons clash in the early 80s and tell me what you think. All the old-timers when interviewed say that the game is faster and more highly skilled today than it's ever been.

McAlmanac is on the money. I recently re-watched the history of the AFL DVD (actually the VFL but don't tell them that) and the biggest thing I got from it was that the same complaints and issues we have today have been around forever ... complaining about umpires, money ruining the game, how much people are paid, ugly incidents, rule changes (remember the 10 year rule?), clashes with the VFL/controlling body ... all there. Go back and have a look. And there is so much scrutiny these days as every game is covered with 10 camera angles and every decision and issue replayed 20 times

Not trying to say everything's perfect, just that it's no-where near as bad as some people seem to think it is. Such as our angry friend Smithy ... mate why do you even keep watching?

[smithy]

Not a personal attack Dutchy.

Certainly sounds like it to me -

You're twice the loser I thought you where.....

Sorry if that offended, it was a tongue in cheek referral to you supporting under achieving Glenelg as well as Kangaroos.

[mighty_tiger_79]

the blues should have lost more then draft picks..........

[rod_rooster]

F*CK OFF MELBOURNE, RICHMOND, WEST BULLDOGS, KANGAROOS, ST KILDA, HAWTHORN (PICK 3 OF THEM)

Makes perfect sense Of those clubs 4 of them are improving rapidly on and off the field. They are being proactive in assuring their survival (Hawthorn with Tassie, North Melbourne with the Gold Coast). Richmond has massive supporter base. Melbourne, well not too much can be said there although i'm sure some Melbourne fans could come up with something regarding their history, the run of flags in the 50's etc. What has Carlton got going for it that the other clubs haven't? Sure they've got a big supporter base but they are crap on the field and have been even worse off it in the recent past. Look in your own backyard before making rubbish statements like that Smithy. If it wasn't for the AFL giving your club massive handouts and bailing them out on more than one occasion the Blues would not exist today.

In reality Melbourne can't support 10 clubs and those clubs that have realised that and are making moves to ensure their survival like Hawthorn and North Melbourne are doing the right thing by their supporters and the competition.

[smithy]

F*CK OFF MELBOURNE, RICHMOND, WEST BULLDOGS, KANGAROOS, ST KILDA, HAWTHORN (PICK 3 OF THEM)

Makes perfect sense Of those clubs 4 of them are improving rapidly on and off the field. They are being proactive in assuring their survival (Hawthorn with Tassie, North Melbourne with the Gold Coast). Richmond has massive supporter base. Melbourne, well not too much can be said there although i'm sure some Melbourne fans could come up with something regarding their history, the run of flags in the 50's etc. What has Carlton got going for it that the other clubs haven't? Sure they've got a big supporter base but they are crap on the field and have been even worse off it in the recent past. Look in your own backyard before making rubbish statements like that Smithy. If it wasn't for the AFL giving your club massive handouts and bailing them out on more than one occasion the Blues would not exist today.

In reality Melbourne can't support 10 clubs and those clubs that have realised that and are making moves to ensure their survival like Hawthorn and North Melbourne are doing the right thing by their supporters and the competition.

No problem looking at my own backyard, I will repeat it again, Carlton deserve EVERY punishment they received for salary cap breaches. They have been poor for 4 years now because of it and if they folded tomorrow I wouldn't shed a tear.
I also don't agree with handouts either. If a club runs itself into major debt, let it sort it's shit out or fold or relocate.
WHo is the AFL to decide which club it wants to help out and which one;s it doesn't (fitzroy?)

In my opinion, the only VIC clubs that are un-moveable are Collingwood, Carlton, Essendon and Geelong.

As for the rest, like I said pick 3 of them to move to other parts of the country because YOu agreed Melbourne can't sustain that many clubs.